Lady s truss



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DAVID B. W. HARD, OF BE'IHLEHEM, CONNECTICUT.

LADYS TRUSS.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 4,432, dated March 21, 1846.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, DAVID B. W. HARD, ofBethlehem, in the county of Litchfield and State of Connecticut, haveinvented a new and Improved Mode of Constructing a Species of Truss,Designed to Act as a Brace or Support to the Abdomen; and I do herebydeclare that the following is a full and exact description.

The nature of my invention consists in effecting an external support forthe abdomen by means of a strip of webbing or other firm cloth whichpasses transversely across the lower portion of the abdomen above thepubis and between the iliac bones, being attached at its two lateral oriliac extremities to a narrow frame of metal which is bent so as toconform to the shape of the rim of the belly and effects the support ofthe abdomen by the action of springs which pass from it around to theback. By this arrangement I eect a more efficient support to the abdomenand avoid the difficulties and inconveniences which result from the toogreat bulk of a front pad-excess of retained heat, friction, andeXcoriation-some or all of which result from the use of other knownmeans of supporting the abdomen.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention I willproceed to describe its construction and operation.

I construct the frame of my support in the following manner. I take a'narrow strip of steel and bend it in the shape I desire-first by placingone end of it near the super or anterior spinos process of the ilium ofthe right side. It extends from thence downward and inward until itarrives near the superior edge of the pubis where it is bent to the leftside-from thence it follows the direction of the bone ofthe pubis untilit arrives near the bones of the ilium of the left side, where it isagain bent and turned in a direction upward and outward and ascends inthe direction of superior anterior spinos process of the ilium of theleft side near the region of which it terminates, at a height tocorrespond with the height of the place of beginning on the right side AB C D E, Fig. 3 of the drawing will v show the form given this part ofthe instrument when constructed in the manner above described. Arepresents the place of beginning near the anterior superior spinosprocess of the ilium B the place near the bone of the pubis when it isbent to one side C the part which follows the direction of the bone ofthe pubis, D the place nea-r the bone of the ilium where it is bent toascend upward and outward and E the place where it terminates, tocorrespond with A on the side opposite.

This part which I have thus far described I denominate the frame thedifferent portions of which, for'the purpose of description I designateby different names-the two sides A, B, and E, D, I denominate thelateral portions, and the part C between B and D I denominate the base.

Fig. l in the drawings represents a front view of the support when allthe parts are put together. Fig. 2 a side and perspective view. Fig. 8 afront View of the frame separate from the other parts. The base of theframe between B and D, is arched in two directions-upward as shown at CFig. 3 and forward as is seen in the perspective view at C Fig. 2.

Fig. 3 is a female screw g g small button knobs. The dimentions of thestrip of steel out of which the above described frame is constructed isabout an inch in width and E of an inch in thickness it is made in theform represented at Fig. B-by being bent edgewise and when placed in itssituation at lower part of the abdomen its flaty surfaces present onetoward the abdomen and the other forward. But this form Fig. 3 may bemade of a round rod or of metal having any other width or thickness orit may be made of any other substance than metal which possessesproperties suited to the purpose its shape may be varied from that shownin the drawing Fig. 3 by making its curves-the segment of larger orsmaller circles. The whole of this frame I cover with some suitablesubstance such as cloth or leather, '&c.

The frame Fig. 3 being constructed as above described' I proceed toapply to it,

and connect with it that part upon which the abdomen mainly rests forits support. I take a piece of webbing, drilling orother firm cloth andwide enoughto extend from A to B, Fig. 1 and having sufficient length toextend from the lateral portion of the frame A, B, transversely to thelateral portion of the frame E, D, to both of which lateral portions itis attached by any convenient mode of stitching or otherwise. The shadedportion of the drawing th 7L Fig. 1 shows the cloth or covering attachedto the frame as above described-itwill pass behind the base of the frameas shownl at I, I, andis divided in the direction of K, L, into twoparts and connected together by hooks and eyes, lacing or 1n any otherway for the greater convenience of putting on and taking off the frame(Fig. 1) for the purpose of washing and cleansing. In place of thefabricl ofcloth heretofore d'e scribed h z 7L Fig. l which is attachedto the lateral portions of the frame and fill-ls the space between themany 'other suitable pliable material may be substituted as netting, haircloth, india rubber cloth or whatever else may possess propensitiesadapted to; this purpose.

M M are springs which attach tothe frame of the pad by the screw f, f,and pass above the hip bone around to back.

0 0 Fig. 2 are pads which rest `upon the back upon each side of thespine.

The metallic frame Fig. 8, forms an external and resisting margin to thesupport, its lateral portions A B, E, D, furnish the means of attachmentto the cloth L LA 7L Figs. l and 2 and maintains it permanently in atransverse position. The base C-between B and D prevent theapproximation of the lateral portions `A B E D-by arching upward it isprevented from pressing on the pubis--by arching forward C, Fig. 2 it isprevented pressing against the abdomen. The knobs g, g, serve to attachone end of a perineal strap.

The cloth 71; h 7b being attached to the lateral` portions o-f the frameas before described-forms a kind of sling o-r sacking bottom whichadapts itself to the shape of the abdomen and upon which the abdomenrests for its` support.

By inspection of the drawing Fig. l, it E will be understood that whenthe support A, B, C, D, E, k, z., i, is applied between 'the i'li'acbones and above the pubis--that the springs M M which fasten to theforni at f, f, and pass over the hips t-o the back will press thesupport against the abdomen in a direction backward and upward and inthis manner edect support-the advantages Vof this support are, first, ithas but little weight; second, it does not retain the animal heat;third, it perfectly adapts itself to.y the shape of the belly making thepressure equal wherever there is contact;` fourth, the cloth can beeasily taken off the fran-ie by any person who uses it-washed like anyother garment, and put on again Without diii-` culty g fth, it does notchate or excoriate the part which it supports.

That I claireas my invention and desire tosecure by LettersBatent,is-M 1. In forming a frame scribed".

y DAVID Bt W- In presence of- P. J.` HErURNn, T. BONN.

to my support. which constitutes a narrow enter' marginA and which thegeneral outlines of they forlnvgiven it present three sides-one side:

